Bonanza Mine, Inc.

Vaden Recovery Plant
Vaden 200 yard/hour gold recovery plant located 40 miles from Sacramento, California on the Yuba River. A six man operation. The ore body was mined by Paul Vaden and partners.	Click Image For Larger Version

Vaden 200 yard/hour gold recovery plant located 40 miles from Sacramento, California on the Yuba River. A six man operation. The ore body was mined by Paul Vaden and partners.	Click Image For Larger Version

Blasting of the ore body.	Click Image For Larger Version

Picture shows ore body that was 120’ high and a quarter of a mile wide. Notice the cleanness of the gravel. This operation also used the gravel as a by-product.	Click Image For Larger Version

Picture shows the simplicity in the gold recovery system using jigs and centrifugal separators. All the gold recovered in this operation was micro gold. The gold ran $4/yard.	Click Image For Larger Version

Shows full operation. Please note 50’ hydro cyclone tower at the top right of the picture and one of the (3) settling ponds.	Click Image For Larger Version

Another picture of the recovery system. Recovery system consists of: Boil box, slick plate, six foot scalper sluice box, (4) large custom made jigs, centrifugal separators, and a nine by forty foot smart sluice box. Sluice boxes were used as a secondary backup in case the jigs failed.	Click Image For Larger Version


Vaden’s recreation recovery plant recovering as much as the Bonnanza Mine plant. The plant was located in Winnemucca, Nevada and used only four employees including Paul Vaden. Notice the 8th generation derocker (in blue) that can handle up to 3.5’ boulders.	Click Image For Larger Version

Shows ore body in Winnemucca Nevada where the small size of the operation did not dictate the use of conveyors. An excavator and (2) fifty ton trucks were used.	Click Image For Larger Version

Another picture of the recovery plant. Worked through the winter.	Click Image For Larger Version

Moving derocker on the property.	Click Image For Larger Version

First prototype derocker developed by Paul Vaden. Built in 1983.	Click Image For Larger Version